TRUTH     WILL     OUT? 


THE  FOUL  CHARGES 

OF    THE 

TORIES 

AGAINST   THE 

EDITOR  of the  AURORA 

REPELLED  by  POSITWE  PROOF  and  PLAIN  TRUTH. 


AND 


HIS  BASE  CALUMNIATORS  PUT  TO  SHAME* 


Cents*] 


PREFATQRT  REMARKS. 

FOR  fome  time  pad  the  Editor  of  the  Aurora  has  experi- 
enced perfecution  in  almoft  every  mape.  A  free  prefs  is 
a  molt  formidable  engine  to  tyrants  of  every  defcription  ;  and 
when  it  was  determined  to  enliil  this  countiy  on  the  fide  of  del* 
potifm  and  then  to  pafs  alien,  treafon  and  fedition  bills,  that  have 
not  a  parallel  even  in  the  Britiih  code,  it  was  neceffary  to  put 
down  the  prefs. 

Combinations  were  firft  tried  to  deprive  the  Editor  of  fupport; 
but  independence  enough  was  found  iit  the  Public  to  baffle  the 
attempt ;  and  tho'  by  this  means  the  eilabliihment  of  the  Au- 
rora has  not  been  as  lucrative  as  it  might  have  been,  it  has  been 
fufficiently  fo  to  fupport  itfelf  and  its  editor. 

The  friends  of  order  next  tried  affaffmation.  The  cowardly> 
premeditated  and  unprovoked  attack  on  him  on  board  the  fri- 
gate, in  which  his  life  was  put  in  jeopardy,  alfo  failed  of  fuc- 
cefs.  The  champion  of  the  faction,  on  this  occafion,  was  pro- 
fecuted  to  conviction ;  but  his  fine  was  paid  for  him  ;  and  he 
has  fmce  been  fent  by  the  Federal  Executive  in  a  public  capa- 
city to  France,  tho*  (till  under  the  operation  cf  the  fentence 
pronounced  againft  him,  by  a  State  Tribunal ;  according  to 
which  he  was  bound  over  to  keep  the  peace  for  a  certain  term. 

For  afferting  the  freedom  of  his  prefs  againft  the  arbitrary 
mandate  of  the  Speaker  of  the  Houfe,  the  Editor  next  was,  by. 
the  Speaker,  removed  from  the  floor  of  the  Houfe,  and  thus 
prevented  from  furnifhing  his  paper  with  a  {ketch  of  the  debates. 
This  act  of  tyranny  might  have  had  a  double  effect :  To  injure 
his  prefs  and  to  prevent  a  free  and  firm  ftatement  of  the  pro- 
ceedings from  meeting  the  public  eye. 

To  enumerate  the  many  fubordinate  attempts  to  ruin  the  Edi- 
tor, or  to  awe  him  into  a  bafe  dereliction  of  his  duty  would 
not  come  within  the  object  of  thefe  few  pages.  The  attack  of 
a  loyal  mob  upon  his  houfe  on  the  yth  of  May  laft  mould  not, 
however,  be  palled  in  total  filence.  This  was,  however,  of  all 
others  the  moft  unfortunate  for  the  abettors  of  it :  It  ferved 
only  to  convince  the  Editor  of  the  number  and  fpirit  of  his 
friends  ;  who  (hewed  themfelves,  in  confequence  of  that  outrage, 
determined,  if  violence,  was  offered  to  his  peifon  or  property,  to 
afiift  him  in  repelling  force  by  force. 

Finding,  fo  far,  that  combinations,  threats  and  perfecutions 
2iad  no  effect  in  moving  or  intimidating  the  Editor,  it  was  next 
attempted,  Gnce  jiis  exertions  ifl  the  caufe  of  republjcanifm  an4 

.. 


/-.  .  *  imUi  ^cjuil -npi  tec  Catalyzed,  to  deftroy  their  effect,  by  reja- 
' "  **  "derin'g  'his  character  infamous  in  the  eyes  of  the  People.  The 
tools  of  the  faction  connected  with  the  adminiftration,  and  their 
creatures  enjoying  legiflative  powers  and  prerogatives,'  for  this 
purpofe,  d-enounced  the  Editor  as  an  agent  of  the  French  and 
paid  by  them.  The  venal  preffes  of  the  faction,  of  courfe  echoed 
the  charge.  It  was  expected,  that  the  Public  mind  might  be 
warped  by  the  boldnefs  and  folemnity  of  the  accufation,  if  it 
appeared  fupported  by  the  flighted  colourable  circumftance  , 
and  that  the  Editor,  from  the  difficulty  of  proving  a  negative, 
would  not  be  able  to  exculpate  himfelf ;  efpecially  as  the  proof 
of  his  innocence  was  to  be  withheld.  But  in  this  attempt  alfo 
the  faction  have  been  completely  foiled.  The  Editor  dared  his 
calumniators  to  the  proof;  expofed  their  in  con  fiftent  and  contrary 
ftories ;  proved  his  innocence  and  has  held  them  up  in  the  light 
they  merited, — as  falfe  and  malicious  detractors,  and  as  the  vile 
interceptors  of  private  correfpondence, — for  which  they  may 
poflibly  yet  be  profecuted. 

The  Editor  has  found  it  out  of  his  power  to  make  truth,  in  this 
tranfaction,  pierce  thro'  the  mifreprefentation  of  bitter  enmity 
and  the  prejudices  of  party  malice.  Many  prefles  publimed 
with  avidity  the  charges  againft  the  Editor  and  have  been  dila- 
tory or  have  altogether  refufed,  to  publifh  the  vindication.-— 
Thoufands  of  handbills  have,  befides,  been  fcattered  to  injure 
him  with  thofeMvho  do  not  read  his  paper  \ — it  was  of  courfe 
.  neceflary  to  take  this  method  of  diffufing  the  antidote.  The 
attention  of  the  reader  is  refpectfully  called  to  the  following 
pages.  ,It  will  be  feen,  that  the  accufation,  in  the  various 
iliapes  it  aflumed,  is  given  as  well  as  the  vindication, — a  procf 
that  truth  and  juftice  are  the  objedts  of  this  publication. 

On  the  very  day  this  dark  confpiracy  againft  the  character 
of  the  Editor  was  fully  unveilecl,  and  charges  againft  his  calum- 
niators of  a  deep  die,  fupported  by  proof,  were  produced, — a 
proiecution  was  inftituted  againft  him  for  a  libel  on  the  Pre- 
{ident..  On  the  merits  of  this  it  would  be  improper  to  fay  a 
word.  The  Editor  has  not  a  doubt,  that  it  will  furnifn  him 
with  another  caufe  of  triumph  ;  even  if  he  is  obliged  to  fubmit 
to  the  aflumed  jurifdiction  of  the  Federal  Court,  and  be  tried 
by  a  Jury  fummoned  by  an  officer,  appointed  by  the  party  that 
received  the  aUedged  injury. 

Much  hope  is,  however,  entertained,  that  the  Liberty  of  the 
Pref.t  will  not  be  fuffered  to  remain  upon  that  bafis  ;  but  that 
the  State  Courts  will  aflbrt  their  exclufive  jurisdiction  in  the  cafe; 
and  that  thofe  of  the  Federal  government  wijl  not  contend  for 
groutxd  not  warranted  by  the  Conflitution,  and  even  difcoun- 
tenanced  by  an  able  opinion  delivered  bv  one  of  the  prefiding 
Circuit  Judges, 


TRUTH  WILL  OUT! 


FROM  THE  AURORA  OF  TUESDAT  JUXL  19. 

Yefterday  in  the  Federal  Houfe  of  Repreferuatives,  the  lafh. 
difpatches  from  our  Commifiioners  whicli  were  drawn  forth  by 
the  publication  of  the  Important  State  Paper  in  Saturday's  Au- 
rora, were  laid  before  that  -'jody,  and  gave  occafion  to  Mr. 
T  •  *  cher  to  make  the  following  obfervar-ions. 

^  Mr.  Thatcher  hoped  a  much  larger  number  would  be  print- 
ed. He  hoped  it  would  be  at  leait  20000.  It  was  well  known 
that  the  letter  of  Talleyrand  had  already  been  printed  in  the 
French  ptper  in  this  city,  and  he  had  no  doubt  by  order  of  the 
French  Directory.  And  he  believed  an  uncommon  number 
had  been  printed  of  that  letter  j  at  leaft  the  French  Printer  of 
this  city  fays  fo.  When  therefore,  he  law  the  Executive  Di- 
rectory, and  its  agents,  taking  fuch  extraordinary  means  to  fpread 
Talleyrand's  letter,  he  wiflisd  the  Houfe  to  take  equal  pains  tcr 
publifh  the  anfwer  of  the  envoys  to  it,  which  he  thought  fatis- 
faclorv  and  incontrovertible. 

^  Mr.  T.  Claiborne,  aiked  what*  evidence  the  gentleman  had 
of  the  agency  he  had  mentioned  ? 

"  Mr.  Thatcher  replied, 'that  he  confidered  the  French  Printer 
of  this  city,  who  had  published  this  letter  of  Talleyrand,  as  an 
agent  of  the  French  Directory,  and  be  hdpedfoon  1 3  be  able  to  convince 
the  biufe  of  the  facl  byfatisfa/^ory  evidence" 

Few  members  could  have  been  found  in  the  houfe  fo  devoid 
of  konorzndjpirit,  as  to  have  done  the  jet  which  it  fell  to  the  lot 
of  Mr.Thatcher  to  perform  in  the  Houfe  yeiierday.  It  required 
a  man  who £2  cowardice  flood  upon  record,  and  who  it  wss 
therefore  certain  would  fknik  behind  his  privilege,  to  throw  out 
an  infult  againfl  a  fellow  citizen,  who  was  deprived  of  the  op- 
portunity of  repelling  the  attack,  :;t  the  time  and  in  the  place  it 
was  given. 

This  attack  is  a  link  of  the  chain  of  psLfecution  bv  which  it- 
is  attempted  to  injure  the  Aurora  and  muzzle  the  prcfs  :  The 
faction  know  their  deeds  will  not  bear  the  li^n?, 

Mr.  Thatcher's  c V  .ge  ajainft  us,  we  fav.  '•.•mny\—*j9 

it  isfalfi.     He  h^-:  promifedprcjof  in  fupport  .  Houfe:, 


We  dare  Mm  to  the  fcrutiny,  even  before  the  tribunal  he  has 
chofen,  and  fhall  not  ceafe  to  call  on  him  for  the  evidence  which 
he  pretends  to  be  in  pofTeiHon  of. 

From  tot  Gazette  of  the  United  States  of  I  aft  evening. 

In  the  beginning  of  laft  week  arrived  in  this  city,  Mr.  Keeder 
from  Paris,  with  diipatches  from  the  French  Directory  to  Ben- 
jamin Franklin  Bache,  printer  of  the  Aurora,  under  the  feal  of 
Mr.  Talleyrand,  which  Mr.  Keeder  punctually  delivered.  He 
bro't  alfo  a  letter  from  Mr.  Talleyrand,  under  feal  to  a  gentle- 
man at  New- York,  which  he  alfo  delivered  at  that  city.  The 
State  Paper  printed  in  the  Aurora  on  Saturday  iatt,  being  Mr. 
'Talleyrand's  Better  to  our  envoys,  was  a  part  of  thefe  difpitches, 
and  xvhat  the  refidue  are  has  not  yet  tranfpired. 

From  the  Phitsddphia  Gazette  of  lap  evening. 

How  the  Editor  of  the  Aurora  got  Mr.  Talleyrand's  letter. 

A  gentleman  from  France  declares  that  on  board  the  vefTel  ia 
which  he  came  there  was  a  large  packet  bearing  the  fe*l  of  the 
office  of  Exterior  Relations,  directed  to  Benjamin  Franklin 
Bache,  and  another  directed  to  a  perfon  in  New  York,  which 
were  delivered  to  the  care  6f  a  Mr.  Lee  who  was  a  pafTenger,  but 
quitted  the  veflel  loon  after  her  arrival  on  the  coaft.  Thefe 
packets  were  delivered  to  Mr.  Lee,  by  a  clerk  in  Mr.  Talley- 
rand's office,  the  very  day  upon  which  the  letter  to  the  envoys 
is  dated,  March  1 8. 

£ln  anfwer  to  both  of  the  above  paragraphs  (which  it  will  be 
feen  do  not  ngiee  with  each  other)  we  can  only  at  prefent  fay; 
that  it  is  a  lie  that  we  received  the  letter  from  France.  More  of 
this  in  our  next.]  Edit,  of  Aurora. 

FROM  THE  AURORA^  OF  THURSDAY  JUNE  21. 

TALLEYRANDS  LETTER. 

The   following  affidavit  will  fave  thofe  that  know  the   Editor, 
the  trouble  of  wading  through  the  fubjoined  lengthy  detail. 

City  of  Philadelphia,/. 

ON  the  2oth  of  June,  1798,  perfonally  appeared  before  me, 
Hilary  Baker,  Mayor  of  the  Ciry  of  Philadelphia,  Benjamin 
Franklin  Bache  ;  who  being  duly  fworn  depoied  and  faid  : — 
That  the  letter  figned  Ch.  Mau.  Talleyrand,  which  appeared 
in  his  newfpaper,  called  the  Aurora,  on  Saturday  lr*(t,  was  not 
bv  him  from  France;  that  it  was e-  •  :"cred  to  him  for 


publication  by  a  gentleman  in  this  city  ;  and  that  lie  never  re- 
ceived the  letter  faid  to  have  been  put  into  the  poft  office  for 
him  in  a  piece  figned  John  Kidder,  publiflied  in  Claypole's  A- 
merican  Daily  Advertifer  of  the  ipth  inft.  And  further  the 
dcponant  fays  not. 

BENJ.  FRANKLIN  BACHE, 
Sworn  before  me, 
HILARY  BAKER,  Mayor. 

Since  the  publication  of  Talleyrand's  letter  to  our  Commifli- 
oners  every  effort  has  been  made  to  divert  the  public  attention 
from  its  contents,  by  making  much  noife  about  the  manner  in 
which  it  came  into  print.  Its  publication  had  a  tendency  to 
counteract  the  fyftem  of  alarm,  which  it  has  been  the  avowed 
object  of  the  Tories  to  encourage  ;  and  to  difpel  the  mifrepre- 
fentations  by  which  the  people  are  attempted  to  be  perfuaded 
into  a  belief,  that  the  views  of  the  French  are  decidedly  hoftile 
to  this  country.  The  publifher  therefore  could  not  be  forgiven, 
and  for  this  tingle  acl  he  has  been  honoured  with  a  greater  por- 
tion of  perfecution  from  the  faction,  than  had  before  fallen  to 
liis  {hare  for  all  his  fobours.  The  tools  of  the  Britifh  faction 
bafely  libelled  him  on  the  floor  of  Congrefs,  as  an  agent  of  the 
French,  and  their  venal  p  relies  attempted  to  fix  the  charge,  by 
bringing  forward  fomething  that  looked  like  evidence,  of  his  hav- 
ing received  the  letter  in  queftion  from  the  French  Department 
of  Foreign  Affairs.  We  (hall  fee  how  a  plain  tale  ihall  put 
them  down. 

Fenno  firft  began  by  aliening  in  his  penfioned  Gazette,  that  a 
"  Mr.  Kidder  had  arrived  from  Paris  with  difpatches  from  the 
French  Directory  to  the  Printer  of  the  Aurora,  under  the  feal 
<jf  Mr.  Talleyrand,  which  he  punctually  delivered." 

Fenno  was  called  upon  to  know  where  Kidder  was  to  be 
found,  and  he  was  waited  on  twice  on  the  day  of  the  publica- 
tion of  Fenno's  lying  paragraph  ;  but  was  not  to  be  met  with. 

The  next  day  John  Kidder  publiihed  in  the  American  Daily 
Advertifer  of  this  city,  that  Mr.  Lee,  a  fellow  paiTenger  in  the 
Snow  William  from  France  "  had  defired  him  to  take  charge  of 
a  number  of  letters  acidreffed  to  different  perfona  in  America  ; 
among  others  one  toBenj.  Frankling  Bache,  another  to  Genet 
of  Long  Illand  5"  but  that  "  he  delivered  the  letters  at  the  Poft- 
Office." 

Upon  this  it  will,  be  remarked,  that  Kiclder's  fojl  far?  con- 
tradicts  Fenno's  flatement.  Kidder,  it  feems,  would  not  pub- 
lifh  (whatever  he  might,  have  faid,)  that  he  had  pun^ually  deli* 


[      4      1 

vered  the  letter  to  the  Editor  of  Aurora  ;  but  only,  that  he  put 
it  into  the  Poft-OfHce. 

x  In  company  with  a  friend,  the  Editor  called  on  John  Kidder  ; 
\vhen  the  following  converfation  took  place.  This  ftatement  of 
it  (with  a  candor  which  his  conduct  little  meritted  ;  but  a  de- 
fire  to  avoid  all  cavil  prompted)  \vas  fubmitted,  to  and  corrected 
by  himfelf. 

Subftance  of  a  conversation  between  B.  F.  BaCheandJ.  Kid*, 
der,  June  19. 

B.  You  have  published  in  a  paper  of  this  morning,  that  a 
letter  \yas  given  to  you  directed  to  me  and  fealed  wjth  the  feal 
of  the  French  Department  of  Foreign  Affairs, 

K.  Yes. 

B.  Who  delivered  it  to  you  ? 

K.  Mr.  Lee. 

B.  Where  was  it  delivered  to  you  ? 

K.  At  Paris  or  Bourdeaux.  I  do  not  well  recollect  which. 

B.  In  your  publication  you  fay,  that  you  afked  Mr.  Lee  what 
it  contained  ;  what  reply  did  he  make  ? 

K.  He  faid  he  believed  it  contained  a  pamphlet  written  by  a 
young  man  in  Talleyrand's  office. 

B.  Did  he  give  it  to  you  with  any  myftery  ;  with  any  injunc- 
tion of  fecrecy,  or  requeft  that  you  would  deliver  it  into  my 
own  hand  ? 

K.  No. 

B.  What  was  the  name  of  the  young  man  who  was  faid  to 
have  written  the  pamphlet  ? 

K.  I  dont  remember. 

B.  Was  it  Pichon  ? 

K.  Some  fuch  name. 

B.  What  did  you  do  with  the  letter  delivered  to  you  by  Mr* 
Lee  for  me  ? 

K.  I  believe  it  went  into  the  Poft-Office  with  the  others  com- 
mitted to  my  care.  I  put  all  into  the  letter  bag  and  went  with 
them  to  the  Poft-OfHce  in  this  city. 

B.  It  is  ftrange  then  that  I  have  not  received  it  ? 

K.  Perhaps  it  might  have  been  taken  out  of  my  trunk  by  cap- 
tain Pender,  of  the  St.  Albans,  who  boarded  us  and  examined 
fome  of  my  letters  and  detained  fome.  It  is  even  probable 
Mr  Lee  may  have  taken  the  letter  directed  to  you  to  the  Eaft- 
\vard.  All  1  am  pofitive  of  is,  that  there  was  fuch  a  letter  in  my 
pofieflion. 

Now  for  a  few  remarks  on  this  conversation,  pruned  as  it  has 
bsen  by  Kidder's  own  hand. 


[     5     1 

Fii-flt  as  to  the  charge  of  treafosiable  correfpondence.  With 
the  citizen  Pechon  I  was  acquainted  while  a  private  individual  in 
this  country.  He  was  afterwards  employed  under  two  fuccef- 
five  French  EmbafTies  here,  and  our  acquaintance  continued  and 
grew  into  intimacy.  If  this  was  treafon  I  have  been  a  traitor 
years  fince,  and  traitors  are  more  numerous  than  has  been  ge- 
nerally fuppofed.  Since  his  departure,  which  was  in  the  fum- 
mer  of  '95,  I  have  written  to  him  once  or  twice,  and  have  re- 
ceived one  letter  from  him,  the  political  part  of  which  I  pub- 
Jifhed  in  my  piper.  Does  this  lo^k  like  .1  treafoivable  corref- 
pondence. It  is  no  mere  than  probable,  from  citizen  Pichon's 
known  talents,  that  he  fhould  have  written  a  political  pamphlet, 
and  natural  that  he  (houid  wi(h  to  fend  me  a  copy  of  it.  Ko 
probably  accompanied  it  with'a  letter.  Is  it  treafon  in  me  to 
receive  a  letter  from  him,  written  when  no  idea  could  be  enter- 
tained in  France  that  there  would  be  a  rupture  between  that 
country  and  this  5  or  that  I  fhould  write  to  him  months  before 
iuch  an  event  was  dreamt  of  here  ! 

Befides  writing  in  itfelf  cannot  be  treafonable,  it  mult  be  thvi 
nature  of  it,  that  (hall  itamp  its  character* 

.  Citizen  Pichon  happens  t<j  be  employed  in  the  office  of  Fo- 
reign Affairs  in  France;  he  ufed  the  leal  of  that  office  in  -hsdof- 
ing  me  his  pamphlet.  If  he  had  written  what  could  be  con- 
itrued  as  ground  for  a  fufpicion  of  treafonable  correfpondence>. 
would  he  have  put  the  feai  of  the  office  of  Foreign  Affairs  on  if, 
would  he  not  have  enjoined  it  on  Mr.  Lee  to  deliver  the  packet 
to  myfelf  ;  or  if  Mr.  Lee  -had  parted  with  it,  would  it  have  been 
to  John  Kidder,  and  then,  without  any  injunction  of  fccrecy  or 
Special  charge  ? 

But,  I  am  thing  the  patience  of  the  reader  in  refuting  a  vague 
charge  put  in  the  mouth  or  George  Thatcher,  and  attempting 
to  prove  a  negative.  I  believe  I  have  dene  this  as  fatisfattorily 
negative  can  be  proved.  It  was  fufficient  for  me  to  deny 
the  charge,  to  call  on  my  calumniators  for  the  proof ;  and  which 
I  here  ag  mi  defy  them  to  ptoduce  :  But  my  anxiety  not  to  be 
even  luipected  by  the  mod  credulous  of  thofe  who  have  heard 
the  accufation  has  led  me  into  this  lengthy  detail. 

I  now  come  more  immediately  to  the  examination  of  the  af- 
fertion  ;  "  'that  I  received  the  letter  of  Talleyrand  diretlly  from 
his  office."  I  already  remarked,  that  Kiddci'sfo'ft  for?  contra- 
t'.ifted  Fenr.o*s  ilatement.  He,  it  is  feen,  contradicts  his  pub- 
lication, in  his  converfation.  In  the  former  he  ailcris  ;  that  he 
put  the  letter  in  the  poft-ofikc.  In  the  latter  ;  that  he  believed 
he  put  it  in  ;  or  perhaps  it  might  have  been  taken  by  captain 
Pender;  cr  m;:y  be,  Mr.  L'ee  had  it  yet.  •  And  it  was  on  the 
eviuence  of  this  man,  who  ftands  thus  felf  contradicted  that  it 


t   r*    3 

^ac,  affcrted,  the  Directory  had  fent  me  Talleyrand's  letter.—  - 
This  contradictory  evidence  of  Kidder,  if  not  fufficient  to  inva- 
lidate what  he  fays,  would  at  leaft  raile  a  doubt  of  my  having 
received  the  packet  he  fpeaks  of,  and  confequently  the  letter  of 
Talleyrand  in  the  manner  aflerted.  We  will  now  prove  that  we 
did  not  receive  it. 

The  bag  of  the  William  was  delivered  into  the  poft-oflice  by 
John  Kidder  on  the  nth  of  June  and  the  letters  fent  out  on 
the  fame  day.  The  following  lines  prove,  that  on  the  nth  of 
Tune  I  received  no  {hip  letter  ;  of  courfe  if  Kidder  put  my  let.- 
ter  into  the  poit-office,  they  have  it  yet  to  account  for  :  If  he  did 
not,  I  could  not  have  received  it  as  is  averted, 

Philadelphia,  June  l$th,  '98. 

In  our  pre  fence  Benj.  Franklin  Bache,  a(ked  the  letter  car- 
rier, who  ferve*  the  diitrift  of  the  city  in  which  he  refides,  what 
poftage  charge  flood  again  ft  him  of  the  I  ith  of  June  ?  He 
examined  his  book  and  anfwered,  three  cents  ;  which  upon  en- 
quiry, he  explained  to  be  for  a  "  dropt  in  letter  •"  not  a  poll,, 
neither  a  fhip,  letter. 

FREDK.  WOOLBERT, 
M.  LEIB. 

I  have  gone  through  this  lengthy  detail  chiefly  to  mew,  by 
lifting  them,  the  groundlefsnefs  of  the  calumnies  of  which  the 
Tories  are  fo  lavrfh,  and  to  avoid  fatisfying  them  as  to  the  fourcc 
from  which  I  really  had  the  letter.  The  ad  minift  ration-,  howe- 
ver we  doubt  not  by  this  time,  have  difcovered  whence  ;  they 
arc  welcome  to  make  it  known  j  and  if  at  the  fame  time  they 
can  inform  me  where  I  ftall  find  my  letter,  faid  to  be  fealed 
with  the  feal  of  the  French  Department  of  Foreign  Affairs,  they 
will  much  oblige  me.  Even  if  the  feal  flioukl  be  broken  or  the 
letter  defaced,  I  (hall  attribute  it  to  accident,  aiid  never  fufpeck 
them  of  having  done  either.  Provided  the  panjiphlet  be  whole, 
they  will  receive  the  thanks  of  TIIR  EDITOR  oi  THE  AURORA. 


FROM  niE  AURQRA,  OF  SATURDAY  JUNE  23. 

From  the   N.  York-  Gazette. 
To  the  Printers  of  tke  New*Tork  Gazette. 

IN  a  hand  bill  iflucd  from  your  preft  this  morning,  I  obferv- 
•?d  a  note  figned  "  John  Kidder/'  in  which  Mr.  Lee  is  menti- 
oned as  being  the  bearer  of  letters  from  the  office  of  the  French 
Minifter  of  Foreign  Affairs  to  citizen  Bache  and  Genet.  In 
juftice  to  Mr.  Lee,  and  to  prevent  Mr.  Kidder's  note  from  hav- 
ing animprefiion  on  the  public  mind,  which  I  am  confident  hf 
-lid  not  intend,  I  (late  ihe  following  circurrsftan 


t    .7     ]  .- 

Mr.  Lee,  Mr.  Kidder,  and  myfelf,  were  fellow  travellers 
from  Paris  to  Bourdeaux.  Mr.  Lee's  departure  having  been  talk- 
ed of  for  a  confiderable  time  before  he  left  Paris,  many  letters 
were  committed  to  his  care,  which  he  looked  over  and  afforted 
in  our  prefence.  Several  letters  fealed  with  the  feal  of  the  Mi- 
nifter  of  Foreign  affairs  and  addrefled  to  the  citizens  Monroe, 
Genet,  Bache  and,  I  believe,  to  fome  other  perfons  of  the 
fame  defcription  </xcited  Mr.  Lee's  curiofity  not  lefs  than  the  reft 
of  the  pafiengers  •,  and  he,  in  particular,  fuggefttd  that  they  ought 
to  be  fent  to  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State.  Mr.  Lee,  as  we!! 
as  myfelf  left  the  veflel  at  fea  :  And,  in  the  hurry  of  aiTorting  the 
letters  for  their  different  deftinations,  I  prefume  he  left  with  Mr. 
Kidder,  who  remained  on  board,  fome  of  the  letters  in  qutftion. 
If  my  teftimony  could  add  any  thing  to  Mr.  Lee's  reputation, 
I  fhould  take  a  pleafure  in  faying  that  he  is  one  of  the  very  few 
Americans  of  refpe&able  character,  who  have  lately  refided  in 
France.  He  has  always  appeared  to  retain  a  warm  attachment 
to  this  country,  and  to  feel  a  fincere  deteftation  for  the  Ameri- 
cans in  France,  whofe  hoftilky  to  our  government  has  had  fa 
confiderable  a  {hare  in  producing  the  prefent  ftate  of  things. 

SAMUEL  M.  HOPKINS, 
Nsw- York,  June  20. 

To  the  Printers  of  the  New-York  Gazette. 
Gentlemen, 

As  the  public  feem  to  fuppofe  that  I  am  criminated  in  Mr. 
Kidder1  s  note  which  appeared  in  a  handbill  this  morning,  I  take 
the  occalion  limply  to  aiTert  that  I  knew  nothing  of  the  contents 
of  the  letters  addrefled  co  Mr.  Bache,  and  others,  bearing  the 
feal  of  the  French  Minifter  of  Foreign  affairs.  That  I  do  not 
even  know  who  delivered  them  to  me,  and  that  I  did  not  notice 
them  particularly  till  after  being  at  fea.  It  was  by  miftake  that 
fome  of  them  were  left  with  Mr.  Kidder,  The  others  have 
been  delivered  up  ro  Government. 

WILLIAM  LEE, 
New-York,  June  20. 

Remarks  by  the  Editor  of  the  ^Aurora. 

It  will  be  feen,  that  the  intimation  we  gave  in  our  laft  obfer- 
rations  on  this  tranfaclion,  is  ftrengthened  by  the  above.  We 
believe  now,  that  we  (hall  be  able  to  turn  the  tables  upon  the 
hatchers  of  ,eonfpirzicies  in  Congrefs.  We  crave  a  little  patience 
from  our  readers  on  this  head.  We  fhull  at  prefent  only  remark, 
that  Mr.  Lee's  ftatement  contradicts  fuch  parts  of  Kidder's  as  he 
has  not  already  contradicted  himfelf.  Kidder  ftated,  that  Mr. 
Lee  gave  him  fome  account  of  the  contents  of  our  letter.  Mr. 
Lee  fays  he  knew  nothing  of  its  contents.  Mr.  Lee  fays  hedi< 
iK>t  notice  it  partklarly  till  after  being  at  fea.  Hcpk^~ 


L     8     3 

that  iii  the  hurry  of  leaving  the  fhip  at  fea  feme  of  the"  letters 
Jk  in  queftion,  heprefumed,  were  left  with  Kidder  who  remained 
onboard.  Kidder  fays  they  were  given  him  at  Paris  or.Bour- 
deaux.  Mr.  Lee  fays,  that  fom^  were  left  with  Kidder  by  mif- 
take.  Kidder  afierts  that  he  was  defired  to  take  charge  of  them 
in  France.  We  pity  poor  Kidder.  He  has  been  prevailed  up- 
on to  be  the  (talking  horfc  in  this  pitiful  contrivance  to  injure  us, 
and  has  not  had  the  brains  to  tell  a  ftreight  ftory. 

We  think  there  is  evidence  enough  now  before  thy  public  to 
induce  a  belief,  that  the  letters  in  queftion  are  in  the  hands  of 
the  Government.  The  unaccountable -fmgularity  of  their  ftate 
(a  treafonable  correfpondenee  with  a  government  feai  to  it  !) 
gave  rife,  no  doubt,  to  all  the  rumours,  which  have  been  fo  in- 
duftrioufly  fpreail  within  thefe  few  days,  of  the  arreftation  of 
the  Editor  of  the  Aurora  ;  and  to- the  denunciations  on  the  floor 
of  Congrefs  againft  him,  by,  George  Thatcher  and  Robert  G. 
Harper.  But  why  has  he  not  been  arrefled  ;  how  comes  it  that 
Harper  now  intimates,  that  he  is  not  quite fure  whether  he  has  not 
left  the  clue  of  confpirac^  and  why  is  Thatcher,  when  called  upon 
to  bring  forward  his  proofs,  —  mute  ?  It  is  becaufe  the  adminif- 
tration  have  not  dared  to  violate  the  feals  of  private  letters. 
Perhaps  it  was  hoped  by  thofe  choice  fpirits  in  adminiflration  in- 
to whofe  hands  the  letters  fir  ft  fell,  that  fomething  like  law  might 
be  found  to  juitify  fuch  a  proceeding  ;  but  we  have  good  rea- 
fon  to  believe,  that,  upon  advifement,  it  was  found  impoffible  to 
commit  fo  great  an  outrage ;  and  we  congratulate  the  Public 
that  adminiftration  were  not  found  bafe  enough  to  commit  an 
aft  that  would  difgrace  the  inoft  defpotic  government.  We 
have  not  a  doubt  but  that  finally,  the  letter  directed  to  us  will 
reach  us  fafe  and  whole  ;  when  our  readers  mail  hear  from  us 
on  this  fubjecl,  if  not  before. 

FROM  THE  AURORA  OF  MONDAY  JUNE  25. 

THE  PLOT  UNRAVELLED. 

The  lateft  artifice  employed  by  the  Tory  faction,  to  injure  the 
Aurora  has  been  the  accufation  directed  againft  its  Editor,  by 
t\vo  of  its  moft  defpicable  initrumentson  the  floor  of.Gppgrrfs. 
that  he  was  a  French  agent.  With  the  boldnefs  of  confcious  in- 
nocence we  publicly  called  upon  thofe  men  to  bring  forward  their 
evidence  ;  the  call  was  reiterated  :  They  were  challenged,  in  the 
houfc  to  produce  their  proofs,  and  one  was  obliged  to  acknow- 
ledge, that, he  believed  he  had  loft  the  threads  of  confpiracy  which 
he  thought  himfelf  in  pofleflion  of ;  the  other  v/as  forced  to 
hold  his  tongue.  In  the  mean  time,  however,  the  prcffes  de- 
•  (1  to  the  faclion  fpread  the  poifon  far  and  .wide,  r.r.d  t, 
•^hufe  againft  the  I'diicr  r-f  ti,. 


nur  filed  our  calumniators  through  ail  their  windings  and  we 
believe  fo  fuccefsfuily  j  that  there  cannot  remain  on  the  minds 
of  thcfe  who  have  read  both  fides  a  doubt  but  that  we  did  net 
receive  Talk".  -.ter  directly  from  France,  nnd  that  the 

packet  fealed'with  the  feal  of  th  £  Foreign  Af- 

fairs contained  nothing  improper.  , 

We  are  now,  however  envied  to  place  ihcfe  points  beyond  the 
poflibily  of  cavil  or  doubt.  It  will  be  remembered  ;  that  wi: 
were  fa'id  to  hive  received  the  letter  cf  the  French  Mmifter  of 


fealed  with  a  French  oincial  leal,  it  mull  contain  Tome  thing  ': 
ibnable.     This  my'.lerioas  packet,  that  was  to  have  given  ib  fur ; 
a  clue  to  a  moll.ctangerou J  confpiracy  v-  a:  length   received  c -n 
Saturday  from  Timothy    Pickering  •,  the  f 

a£t.     We  der .  :  meflc-iiger  and  kept  in  IMS  view  till  t\v=> 

gentle-men  could  be  called  in  10  be  \vitneiles  at  its  being  opened, 
and  the  following  is  the  rtiult  of  the  exarnin..  y    macl_ 

of  its  contents. 

Ctrl', fie  ate. 

We  do  hereby  certify  that,  at  the  requefl  of  Benj.  Franklin 
Bache.  we  were  p relent  at  the  opening  of  a  packet  directed 
"  Au  Citoyen  B.  F.  Bache  imprimeur  a  Philadelphia,"]!  fealed 
with  a  leal  round  which  were  inicri'oed  the  words  "  REPUBLI- 
QL'E  FRANCHISE"  and  at  the"  bottom  "  Relations  Exterieures"*^ 
which  packet  was  delivered  to  Mr.  Bache  by  a  meiTenger  from, 
the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States.  The  only  things 
contained  in  the  faid  packet  were  two  pamphlets  printed  in  the 
French  i  one  entitled  "  Lettre  d'un  Frahcais  a 

Pitt>:f  ;  and  the  cthe  other  "  Seccnde  Letrre   d'un  Francais  ? 
M.  Pitt"  both  direded  «  B.  F.   Bache  de  la  pnrt  da   Cn.  Pi- 
chon"^.      Vvre  examined  the  faid    pamphlets  and  the  cover    ir. 
which  thev  were  enciofed,    and  excepting   t;te   directions  (and 
the  receipts  on  the  cover  limned    "  Oliv  :  \Volcot."  and  u 
Pickering")  there  was  not  a  fingle  w^rd  in  manufcript  either  on 
the  cover  or  the  pamphlets,  nor  was  there  any  letter  or  pap-f 
•.vritten  or  printed  except  the  faid   pamph.lets  contained   in  tb'  « 
pa  1.  her  certify  that  the  mefTenp'er  fiv  ;cre- 

tary  of  State  \vas  in  the  room  at  Mr.  Bache*shouie 

.  it.  MATTHEW  CAREY. 

>SEFH  CLAY. 
Fhiiulcipbia  2;cl  June,    i 

*  .[Ton 
J 

.  j 


r  •  «.~     i 

On  the  back  of  the  letter  above  the  ical  was  written,  '•  Re- 
iune  20,  from    William  Lee,  OLIV.  VVTOLCOTT,"  nnd 
i:r •..; .  <c  Received  in  the    mail  from  New-York,  June 

22u,    1798,  T.  PICKERING." 

Thus  we  fee,  that  all  the  calumnies  which  have  been  utter- 
ed again  ft  the  Editor  within  thefe  few  days,  all  the  reports  to 
his  prejudice  have  taken  their  rife  from  his  having  tranfmitted 
tc  him  from  France  two  pamphlets  on  Engl'ifls  affairs;  and  which 
from  beginning  to  e-id  do  not  even  contain  one  fingle  word  re- 
fpecting  this  c  •  :y. 

As  fur  :is  we  are  now  informed,  we  believe  the  following  a 
pretty  accurate  iketch  of  the  courfe  this  affair  has  taken  in  the 
Executive.  They  \veie  probably  informed  by  William-  Lee, 
•when  he  tranfmitted  the  difpatches  to  government,  Jiat  fuch 
and  fuch  letters  were  in  his  pofleiFion,  requeuing  to  know  whe- 
ther he  ihould  deliver  them  up  to  them,  or  to  their  addrefs. 
This  is  fuppofed  to  have  taken  place  the  end  of  the  week  before 
iaft  The  iViiject  was  a  delicate  one.  To  difcover  any  thing, 
which  could,  be  perverted  to  feed  the  prefent  -flagging  fyftem  of 
alarm,  was  a  temptation  fcarcely  to  be  refilled,  but  on  the  o- 
therhand,  to  receive  another  man's  property,  without  authority 
or  law,  was  a  hazardous  iicp.  It  was  determined  finally,  how- 
ever, as  we  fuppofe,  that  Oliver  Wolcott  ihould  go  to  New- 
York,  which  he  did  about  a  week  ago,  to  view  thefe  fufpe&ed 
letters,  and  to  pick  up  fuch  information  .as  might  enable  admi- 
•niilration  to  determine,  whether  it  was  worth  while  to  violate 
«very  principle  of  law  and  honor  to  get  at  their  contents.  Bu-t 
"while,  this  difgraceful  journey  was -performing,  it  was  thought 
policy  to  enable  two  of  the  mouth-pieces  of  adminifrration  in 
Congrefs  to  throw  out,  by  anticipation,  thofe  charges  againft  the 
Editor,  which  it  was  expected  the  contents  of  the  packet  would 
•enable  them  to  eitablifh  (how  proper  feme  perfbns  are  to  fufpe£t 
their  r.ci^bonrs  !).  Be  fides  it  was  calculated,  that  fuch  charges 
Tittered  .i^i/inft  him  in  fo  refpectable  a  place  as  the  Houie  of  Re- 
i  would  have  great  effecl  in  injuring  him,  efpecially* 
:-:-s  it  was  tt- ri  to  one  the  Editor  would  not  be  able  (from  the  dif- 
ficulty of  proving  a  negative)  fully  to  exculpate  himlelf. 

tfras  found  to  contain    nothing  of  n^pmenr,  if 

only  to  defiroy  it,  and  captain  Fender-could  bare  the  blame 

tvinrr  taken  it  •,  ftill  there  would  have  been  .fjjch  >a    packet, 

was  enough  to  found  a  cloud  cf  vague  calumnies  upon, 

..  fuch  toils  the  Editor's  efcape  has  been  providential.  Kid- 

.  publication  was  directed  againft  the  Editor  ;  but  ic  implicat- 

und  Lee  to  exculpate  himfelf  was   obliged  to  declare 

-!;e  letters  had  been  given  up  to  government  :  The  .Secretaries 

•  -.if-.vrrjsble  for  them,  and  the.pacV.ets  v/ere.e! 


c-i  to  be  produced, lor  fear  of  the  difgrace  which  a  prcfccutlon,  fcr 
detaining  property  not  belonging  to  them,  mud  have  occafioned. 

While  this  bafe  bufinefs  of  efpioxags  was  purfuing,  another 
jnethod  was  attempted  to  confound  the  Editor,  if  pofiible.  Re- 
pcf-ts  were  induftriouily  fpreid,  that  he  was  arretted,— that  he 
was  in  jail, — that  he  had  tied.  Thror  a  channel,  almoft  official, 
he  learnt,  that  the  order  wns  actually  figned  for  his  arreftation. 
What  was  the  object  of  thefe  reports  ?  It  was  hoped  that  they 
might  intimidate  -,  that  if  he  had  the  moil  remote  fear  that  the 
leaft  fufpicious  circumftance  was  in  pofieflion  of  his  enemies  he 
would  be  induced  to  fly.  But  what  was  his  conduct.  Shroud- 
ed in  confcious  innocence  he  braved  their  mod  enveromed  ma- 
lice. When  denounced  on  the  floor  of  Congrefs  he  did  not 
truckle  to  his  calumniators ;  but  dared  them  to  the  proof,  and 
gave  them  the  epithets  their  conduct  deferved.  Neither  was 
the  fpirit  of  his  paper  cowed.  His  readers  will  teftify,  that 
from  the  dawn  of  this  week's  perfecution  it  rofe  in  its  fpirit, — 
and  fo  it  ever  {hall  •,  perfecution  (hall  only  fan  the  name  of  his 
deteftation  for  thofe  whom  he  ccnfiders  the  enemies  of  the  .bell 
interefts  of  his  country.  They  ihall  not  make  him  abandon 
his  poft  for  fear  of  a  trial  even  before  their  tribunals.  He  will 
ever  prefer  death,  as  a  victim,  to  a  flight  that  would  render  his 
innocence  fufpected.  This  is  high  language,  it  will  be  faid.  It 
is  the  language  of  injured  and  triumphant  innocence.  Perhaps 
adminiilration  may  not  underftand  it. 

To  return  to  the  journey  to  New  York.  An  infpection  of 
the  packets  to  MefTrs.  Monroe,  Genet  and  the  Editor,  as  well 
as  thofe  to  "  other  perfons  of  the  fame  defcription"'  was  proba- 
bly fuiHcient  to  convince  the  moft  fceptic,  that  they  contained 
nothing  but  a  pamphlet.  Their  uniform  fize,  fhape,  weight, 
&c.  and  the  uniformity  of  the  hand-writing  on  the  cover  v,  a> 
evidence  inco'n trover tibl£>  that  they  came  from  the  fame  perfou 
and  contained  the  fame  thing.  If  Lee  had  written  to  the  Se- 
cretary, as  he  told  Kidder,  that  he  was  informed-  they  contained 
pamphlets— it  might  have  lowered  h;s  importance  in  this  bun- 
nefs,  but  would  have  faved  Oliver  Wolcott  a  warm  ai.d  duft-.- 
ride  to  New  York  and  back.  If  the  outward  appearance  of  the 
pickets  had  not  been  fufficient  to  give  an  idea  of  their  contents 
would  not  our  Secretary  have  found  himfclf  in  an  ugly  dilemma f 
There  are.  certainly  means  well  known  of  opening  packets  and 
fealing  them  again,  when  curiofity  is  fatisned ;  but  we  wtir 
our  young  government  is  totally  ignorant  of  them  ;  and  if  in- 
formed of  them  would  certainly  not  be  bafe  enough  to  put  them 
in  practice.  Yet  did  Oliver  Wolcott  journey  to  New  York  only 
to  look  at  the  outfide  of  thefe  myfterieus  bundles ;  cr  was  he  to- 


-  put  in  \-  •  -f  the  co;  l'o:r,e  magic,  without  v:o~ 

lating  {.he  feals  ? 

•eo:r  w^ntin  this  bufmcfs,  he  went 

roc  on'y  wiii-cui  h»w,  bur  ;.^ainlt  law;  and  he  has  had  toe  foiiv 
by  his  receipt  to  give  prr,r>i'  6f  ir..  The  letter  directed  to  the 
Editor  V.MS  his  property:  "Yv'hat  r:ght  had  Oliver  Wolcott  to- 
receive  it  ?  and  then  to  lend  it  to  a  t'^ird  perron  •'  Who  told 
him  that  we  •  .'.ng  to  truft  him  wiih  a  letter  ;  Suppoie 

we  mould  undertake  to  receive' a  letter  directed  to  him,  or  any 
other  property,  detain  it  a  tim?,  and  then  traniniic  it  to  a  third 
pr.ribn,  would  he  not  coiifider  himfdf  injured,  and  cculd  he 
not  obtain  recircfs  ?  But  our  cafe  is  itronger  ftiil.  Ju  the  be- 
ginning of  the  week  reports  are  fpread  intended  to  nmi  us  in 
character  and  in  fortune,  and  tire  proofs  of  our  iuuoctuce  are 
kept  back  by  thofe  who  were  concerned  in  orignating  thofe  re- 
ports •,  for  where  eifc  could  members  of  the  Le^illature  get  infor- 
fnation  on  which  they  could  fo  positively  commit  thernfelves. 
Can  conduft  be  more  attrocious. 

And  who  are  the  perfons  who  have  taken  upon  themfelves 
thus  to  violate  and  injure  the  rights  and  character  of  the  Editor/ 
They  are  officers  not  even  known  to  the  Conflitution ;  mere 
creatures  of  the  Executive,  fubjecl  to  his  will  and  pieafure,  and 
independent  of  the 'People.  Shall  fuch  men  be  permitted  to 
place  themielves  above  the  law,  with  impunity,  to  intercept  . 
private  correfpondence  and  run  down  piivate  charu^ler  ?  If 
rhey  -are  not  brought  before  the  courts  of  juilice  for  their  ar- 
logunce,  it  is  bcc^ufe  the  tribunal  of  the  prefs  is  more  formi- 
dable to  them. 

As  to  the  calumnies  which  have  been  uttered  againft  the  Edi- 
tor on  the  floor  of  Congrefs }  his  calumniators  there  are  in  a 
jafure  beyond  his  reach.  They  cannot  be  queftioned  for 
what  they  fay  in  the  refpeclable  character  of  Reprefentatives  of 
the  People,  and  they  are  iheltered  by  their  privilege.  It  is  true, 
that  what  they  utter  in  that  folemn  place,  which  holds,  concen- 
tered, the  majefty  of  the  ibvereign  People,  maybe  commented 
Cui  in  the' papers  ;  but  the  fugitive  nature  of  the  anfweris  futile 
comrafted  with  the  folemnity  of  the  accufation.  The  Editor 
thinks,  therefore,  that  he  has  ;i  j;;ft  claim  on  George  Thatcher 
Robert  G.  Harper  to  declare,  whether  .the  ideas. refpecHng 
him,  to  which  they  gave  body  in  tke  debates  of  lad  week  are 

i  difpelled  by  the.  proofs  in  this  day's  paper.      If  they  have 

i&  of  honor  left,  they  \vil-i  feel,  that  it  cannot  be  below 

.their  tiigniiy   io  do  juilice  to  injured  innocence-,  and  their  h"- 

knc   ,  fprivc^s  '..'  f  plei.cry   ji>  rh ..-,  : -:-.r:  only 


